Bow Skills: Educators’ Retreat

A FREE two-day exploration of what artists and creative educators can bring to formal education, and how art can make a difference to children and young people’s lives. Take part in creative workshops, talks and discussions to refresh your own practice, experiment, learn new skills and meet like-minded creative practitioners.

THURSDAY 20th February – 11AM-5PM

AM Session

11am-1pm – ARTIST-LED WORKSHOPS

Take part in workshops with artists exploring different methods and techniques. Workshops take place simultaneously; participants must choose one workshop they would like to join:

Workshop 1: Join artist and educator Karen Le Roy Harris to explore how making can be a tool for drawing using collaborative processes.

Workshop 2: Join artist and educator Victoria Burgher to explore casting using plaster moulds. Note that if you attend this session you will need to be present in the afternoon to finish your moulds.

1-2pm – LUNCH

Please bring your own lunch, or purchase from the Lockside Kitchen.

PM Session

2-3pm – Guest Speaker: Steph Cubbin on ‘Teachers and Artists Working Together’

Stephanie Cubbin has been teaching and leading the art and design department at a central London all girls secondary since 2001. Stephanie has also been working as SLE (Specialist Leader of Education), supporting many heads of departments in developing their curriculum, improving results and supporting middle leadership. Stephanie has been a moderator for an exam board for ten years, keeps an arts practice and she still teaches in all key stages.

Stephanie also works in arts advocacy, particularly contributing to advisory and parliamentary lobby groups. She delivers talks and INSETs on teaching creatively to raise achievement, Arts practice with Arts teaching, and working with galleries and cultural institutions. Join her to explore concepts and ideas relating to artists and teachers working together, hierarchy in arts and how teachers can sustain an artistic practice themselves.

3-3.30pm – Completion of Workshop 2: Completion of moulds made with Victoria Burgher for those who attended her morning session.

3.30-4pm – PLENARY

Come together to discuss and reflect on the day’s creativity.

4pm onwards – CHAT

Enjoy a complimentary glass of wine and the opportunity to chat more informally until RAW Labs closes at 5pm.

FRIDAY 21st February – 11AM-5PM

AM Session

11am: Welcome – Introduction and warm-ups delivered by the Bow Arts Education Team

11.30-12.30 – Guest Speaker: Claire Zanelli on ‘Teaching for Creativity’

Claire Zanelli is an Artist, Creative Educator and Director of Creative Curriculum at Frederick Bremer School. Join her to discuss concepts and ideas around teaching for creativity and participate in discussions to reflect on your own practice as a creative educator.

1-2pm – LUNCH

Please bring your own lunch, or purchase from the Lockside Kitchen. 

PM Session

2-4pm – ARTIST-LED WORKSHOPS

Take part in workshops with artists that explore new approaches to motivating and engaging pupils. Participants must choose one workshop they would like to join:

Workshop 1: Join artist Eleanor Lines to explore creative decision-making and experimentation through screen-printing.

Workshop 2: Join artist Janetka Platun for a workshop exploring concepts and ideas relating to creative projects for SEN students.

4-4.30pm – PLENARY

Come together to discuss and reflect on the day’s creativity.

4.30pm onwards – CHAT

Make an evening of it and enjoy a complimentary glass of wine and the opportunity to chat more informally. From 5pm wood-fire pizzas are available to purchase from Foxy’s wood-fired pizzas. RAW Labs is open until 10pm.

You can attend the full two days or choose AM or PM sessions. Spaces will be offered on a first come first served basis.

Bow Arts seeks to support creative professionals at all stages of their careers. In 2015 Bow Arts launched Bow Skills in response to an artist survey which showed over 90% of practicing artists find it useful to receive further support outside formal education. Bow Skills is a dynamic and relevant programme of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) which is informed by an artist steering group and open to all creative practitioners across London. The programme of talks, panel discussions, new skills labs and peer crits is open to all, with concession rates available to Bow Arts artists and students.